LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Ward councillors have been challenged to lead in Lilongwe’s waste management awareness.
The Director of Programmes for Waste Advisors, John Chome observes that a knowledge gap among communities has contributed to poor waste disposal practices in Lilongwe City.
The Director, Chome, said limited understanding of waste management has resulted in indiscriminate dumping of waste, leading to increased pollution across the city.
Chome made the remarks on thursday during the consultative meeting with Councillors on the possible establishment of ward recycling centers supported by Center for Environmental Policy and Advocacy under POSSIBLE project with funding from European Union in Lilongwe.
Speaking at the meeting, Chome described councillors as custodians of urban governance at the city level, stressing that engaging them is critical in addressing waste management challenges.
He said empowering councillors with the necessary knowledge would ease the establishment and sustainability of recycling centres.
“As custodians of the city, councillors must clearly understand the current waste management situation so they can make informed decisions.
“Working together, we can effectively address waste challenges and support the establishment of recycling centres,” said Chome.
Deputy Mayor of Lilongwe City Council, Triza Sillo, commended the Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) and other partners for organising the meeting, saying the engagement would strengthen advocacy efforts on waste management.
Sillo said councillors would use evidence-based information shared during the meeting to complement initiatives in their respective wards, particularly in promoting the establishment of recycling centres.
She further noted that waste management in Lilongwe should not be viewed as the responsibility of the council alone, but as a collective duty requiring support from all residents.
“As a Deputy Mayor, I am aware of the concerns raised by the public regarding cleanliness in our city. I therefore call upon residents of Lilongwe to work hand in hand with the council.
“If we jointly address littering and indiscriminate waste dumping, these concerns will be a thing of the past and the city’s outlook will improve,” said Sillo.
During the meeting, it was revealed that the Mtandire Waste Management Centre generated over K70 million after selling 6,000 bags of compost manure produced from waste at a price of K12,000 per 50-kilogramme bag.
The Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) is leading the POSSIBLE Project, which is being implemented by Waste Advisors with support from the European Union.
